Module Zero topics
Module Zero
Module Zero
As the entry requirements for the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) include competencies that are in addition to those required for the legacy programs, Module Zero is designed to help program entrants who have met legacy prerequisite course requirements fill any knowledge gaps or refresh their knowledge prior to starting Core 1. All candidates are required to register for Module Zero once their CPA PEP application has been submitted and approved.
Module Zero is:
- Free: However, candidates must have submitted an application form for entry to the CPA PEP in order to access the material. Candidates may register for this free module through the My CPA portal.
- Flexible: Candidates decide which topics they wish to review and may complete them at their own pace. Any Module Zero topics selected must be completed at least three weeks prior to the start of Core 1.
- Online: Candidates can complete the topics from anywhere with an internet connection, and will have access to a subject-matter expert if they have questions about the material. Candidates will have access to Module Zero content throughout the CPA PEP.
- Self-assessed: There are no marked assignments or examinations. When candidates complete a topic, they may answer review questions to assess their comprehension of the material.
Module Zero will be available to all candidates until June 2017.
Module Zero Topics
Updated January 29, 2015
The Module Zero material for CPA program entrants with legacy prerequisites falls into seven competency areas: Financial Accounting, Taxation, Management Accounting, Strategy and Governance, Audit and Assurance, Finance, and Law. Candidates can choose the topics they need in order to fill any knowledge gaps.
Click on the links below to download PDFs that list the material in each competency area.
Financial Accounting (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Business combinations(3) | |
| FA01: Investments subject to significant influence | 3-4 hours |
| FA02: Consolidation at acquisition | 6-8 hours |
| FA03: Consolidation subsequent to acquisition | 6-8 hours |
| FA04: Joint ventures | 3-4 hours |
Financial instruments(3) | |
| FA05: Classification and measurement of financial assets, financial liabilities and equity instruments | 5-7 hours |
| FA06: Hedging | 4-5 hours |
Financial accounting for not-for-profit organizations(3) | |
| FA07: Financial accounting for not-for-profit organizations | 18-20 hours |
Foreign currency translation (3) | |
| FA08: Foreign currency translation | 5-6 hours |
| FA09: Interim reporting | 1 hour |
Taxation (PDF/300KB)
Personal and Corporate Taxation (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Capital cost allowance(4) | |
| TX01: Replacement property rules | 1-2 hours |
| TX02: Class 10.1 vehicles (luxury passenger vehicles) | 1 hour |
| TX03: Disposition of building and land | 1-2 hours |
| TX04: Consideration (fair market value rules) | 1 hour |
Taxes payable by a corporation(4) | |
| TX05: Components and calculation of corporate taxes payable | 7-11 hours |
General – introduction(2) | |
| TX06: Introduction | 2-3 hours |
General – computation of income(2) | |
| TX07: Taxpayers and sources of income | 2-3 hours |
| TX08: Income from office or employment | 3-4 hours |
| TX09: GST and business income | 3-4 hours |
| TX10: Capital cost allowance and eligible capital property | 3-4 hours |
| TX11: Property income | 1-2 hours |
| TX12: Capital gains(1) | 2-3 hours |
| TX13: Other income and deductions, including saving for retirement | 2-3 hours |
General – taxable income and tax payable(2) | |
| TX14: Taxable income and tax payable for an individual(1) | 2-3 hours |
| TX15: Taxable income and tax payable for all corporations | 1-2 hours |
| TX16: Tax payable for a Canadian-controlled private corporation | 2-3 hours |
General – tax planning(2) | |
| TX17: Owner-manager tax planning | 2-3 hours |
| TX18: Transfer of property(1) | 1-2 hours |
Administration(2) | |
| TX19: Administration | 2-3 hours |
Management Accounting (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Management planning and evaluation tools(3) | |
| MG01: Enterprise resource planning | 2-3 hours |
| MG02: Capacity requirements planning | 2-3 hours |
| MG03: Responsibility accounting | 3-4 hours |
| MG04: Activity-based management | 2-3 hours |
| MG05: Balanced scorecard | 2-3 hours |
| MG06: Non-profit and government entities | 2-3 hours |
Strategic cost management(3) | |
| MG07: Costing strategies | 5-6 hours |
Quality control and quality improvement(3) | |
| MG08: Business process re-engineering | 3-4 hours |
Pricing decisions(3) | |
| MG09: Industry structure | 1-2 hours |
| MG10: Pricing strategies | 3-4 hours |
| MG11: Cost-plus pricing and fixed-price contracts | 1-2 hours |
| MG12: Product differentiation, mix, and marketing | 4-5 hours |
| MG13: Transfer pricing | 3-4 hours |
Strategy and Governance (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Role of governance(1)(3) | |
| ST01: Governance structure | 3-4 hours |
| ST02: Auditor roles | 3-4 hours |
| ST03: Mission, vision, values, and objectives | 4-5 hours |
| ST04: Environmental scan | 8-10 hours |
| ST05: Strategy formulation | 6-8 hours |
| ST06: Strategic implementation | 6-8 hours |
| ST07: Managing risk | 5-6 hours |
| ST08: Strategic evaluation | 3-4 hours |
Audit and Assurance (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Introduction(2) | |
| AS01: Introduction to assurance | 1-2 hours |
| AS02: The requirement for audit | 5-6 hours |
Acceptance and continuance(2) | |
| AS03: Acceptance and continuance | 2-3 hours |
Planning(2) | |
| AS04: Planning | 6-7 hours |
| AS05: Business processes, IT systems and controls | 5-6 hours |
| AS06: System and control procedures | 3-4 hours |
Execution(2) | |
| AS07: Introduction to audit procedures | 2-3 hours |
| AS08: Substantive testing | 5-6 hours |
Completion and reporting(2) | |
| AS09: Audit completion | 2-3 hours |
| AS10: Audit reports | 2-3 hours |
Special topics(2) | |
| AS11: Auditing consolidated financial statements | 2-3 hours |
| AS12: Other assurance engagements(1) | 1-2 hours |
Finance (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Financing decisions and finance management(2) | |
| FN01: Working capital management | 2-3 hours |
| FN02: Financial forecasting | 2-3 hours |
| FN03: Government assistance(1) | 1 hour |
Law (PDF/300KB)
| Topics | Estimated time to complete |
| Property rights(1) | |
| LW01: Real property | 1 hour |
| LW02: Intellectual property | 1 hour |
Environmental(1) | |
| LW03: Environmental protection | 1 hour |
Footnotes
- These topics should be of interest to candidates transitioning to the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) from the legacy CGA program. The following specific taxation topics are recommended for legacy CGA students:
TX12 Capital gains - Small business share roller
- Options
- Convertible property
1 hour TX14
Taxable income and tax payable for an individual
- Alternative minimum tax
1 hour
TX18
Transfer of property
- Transfer of property to spouse
- Non-arm’s-length transfer of shares
1 hour
CGA students who completed the 2013 edition of Advanced Management Accounting (MA2) may not require the Strategy and Governance topics.
- These topics should be of interest to candidates transitioning to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) from the CMA Accelerated or Executive Programs.
- These topics should be of interest to legacy CASB students transitioning to, and candidates entering, the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) with CASB pre-requisites, who did not take advanced financial accounting, advanced management accounting or business strategy.
- These topics should be of interest to any candidates who did not get exposure to advanced capital cost allowance rules or comprehensive corporate taxation in their prerequisite tax course. Please see the Personal and Corporate Taxation document for further information.
Module zero FAQs
What are the prerequisites for admission to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP)?
To be admitted into CPA PEP, you must have completed an undergraduate degree and specific subject area coverage. The specific subject area coverage is defined in the CPA Competency Map.
Because the entry requirements for CPA PEP cover additional competencies to those required for the legacy programs, Module Zero has been designed to help CPA program entrants who have met (or are close to meeting) prerequisite course requirements for one of the legacy programs fill knowledge gaps before starting Core 1. The material is free, flexible, online, and self-assessed, but you will need to enroll to access it, and must complete the topics you identify before Core 1 starts.
You may register for Module Zero once your CPA PEP application has been approved.
Depending on which legacy program’s prerequisite courses you have completed, you may not need to complete any of Module Zero; however, you will need to select "no topics required" during the Module Zero topic selection process. The Module Zero material covers four competency areas: Financial Accounting, Taxation, Management Accounting, and Strategy and Governance.
Additionally, some post-secondary institutions may offer boot camp programs or extra sessions of courses delivering CPA prerequisites. If you choose to fill knowledge gaps through these programs, you are responsible for any associated costs.
The topics covered in each part of Module Zero are listed here. We encourage you to compare these lists against course material you have completed. You may want to consult with your post-secondary institution for additional guidance.
No, there are no assignments or exams in Module Zero, although you will need to complete the topics you identify at least three weeks before Core 1 starts. When you complete a topic, you will answer review questions to assess your comprehension of the material. You will be able to revisit any of the material at any time throughout CPA PEP.
Module Zero is free; however, you need to enroll in order to access the content.
How long it takes you to complete Module Zero depends on which topics you identify that you need to complete. The estimated time to complete each topic is listed here, but you can go at your own pace. There are no marked assignments, although you will need to complete the topics you identify at least three weeks before Core 1 starts. You can revisit the Module Zero content at any time throughout CPA PEP.
Log in to the My CPA Portal here to register for Module Zero. Once this registration is complete, an automatic email will be sent to you, directing you to the website where you can select your topics. After you select your topics, a second automatic email will ask you to confirm the selected topics. You will have access to Module Zero within three to five business days of confirming your selected topics.
Module Zero is designed for anyone entering CPA PEP who has completed (or is nearly complete) an undergraduate degree and legacy prerequisites, but is missing some of the subject area coverage defined in the CPA Competency Map.
To decide which parts of Module Zero you are required to complete, please compare the list of Module Zero topics to the list of prerequisite courses you have completed. Contact the appropriate legacy body for a list of prerequisite courses. If you need to fill in gaps with content that is not available through Module Zero, please contact CPAWSB at 1-866-420-2350 or cpaappl...@cpawsb.ca to discuss your options.